Methyl ethyl ketone

chemical compound

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Alternative Title:
2-butanone

Mass spectrometry can be used to analyze the molecular structure of organic compounds such as 2-butanone. In this technique, the compound of interest is ionized in a vacuum chamber, and the charges and masses of the ions that break off from the compound are detected. The mass spectrum records the mass-to-charge ratio (m/z) on the horizontal axis and the ion abundance on the vertical axis.

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mass spectrum

The mass spectrum of the ketone 2-butanone serves as an example. The strongest peak in the spectrum is known as the base peak, and its intensity is arbitrarily set at a value of 100. The peak at m/z= 72 is the molecular ion and as such gives the molecular mass of the molecule. In high-resolution mass spectrometry, the mass of the molecular ion can be measured to an accuracy of 4 ppm. In such an...

use in crystallization

The crystallization of wax from lubricating oil fractions is essential to make oils suitable for use. A solvent (often a mixture of benzene and
methyl ethyl ketone) is first added to the oil, and the solution is chilled to about −20 °C (−5 °F). The function of the benzene is to keep the oil in solution and maintain its fluidity at low temperatures, whereas the methyl ethyl...